The ruling Awami League leaders have asked BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to shun the path of violence; or else, the party’s responsible leaders would leave her.
“The BNP leaders are financing the ongoing destructive activities including violence, sabotage and secret attacks with Molotov cocktails. If they continue such acts, they should be sued,” Food Minister Quamrul Islam said at a programme yesterday.
If the BNP continues violence, the former law state minister said, its sensible leaders would reject the leadership of Khaleda, a three-time prime minister.
He suggested that Khaleda be made accused as mastermind for the terror attacks taking place anywhere in the country during the 20-party’s blockades and hartals. She would have to shoulder responsibilities for the deaths, injuries and loss of properties.
With the one filed in Comilla yesterday, the BNP chief has been named as instigator in three cases of violence centring the 20-party’s indefinite blockade.
Speaking at the same event at Shilpakala Academy in the capital to mark the 10th anniversary of death of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, Awami League’s Publicity and Publication Secretary Hasan Mahmud said: “You [Khaleda Zia] are not a leader of the country, you...a leader of terrorists and militants.”
Expressing shock at the death of Khaleda’s younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, he said the BNP chief should shun the path of violence realising the sufferings of the people.
“The government is ready to take tough stance if the BNP-Jamaat tries to create anarchic situation,” the former minister added.
Ruling out any scope of holding dialogue with the BNP over a mid-term election, Hasan Mahmud said no talks would be held with the party, leaders of which did not open the gate of Khaleda’s office on Saturday when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went there.
